Dom Amore: On unlikely stage, UConn can find its football voice

[huskymedic]

-> Chase Lundt remembered the moment, remembered the handshake, and most of all he remembered the vibe. Something had changed. “That first encounter I had with Coach (Jim) Mora), it was in 2021,” said Lundt, an offensive lineman with NFL prospects. “Right before the Clemson game, me and my Dad went up to shake hands with him. I just remember the emotion of confidence that bled from Coach Mora and I’ve kind of fed off that ever since I met him. Really, since that day moving forward to the point where we are right now, I’ve seen the way we prepare and the way do things at UConn and it’s translated to the field. It’s just been super special to be part of this group.” <-

-> “For this program, we want to start not just competing, but beating some Power Four teams,” Mora said, “and making the statement that we are becoming very relevant again on the football field.” <-

-> “I don’t want to suggest that it’s a transformational opportunity either way,” Benedict said. “To put it in proper context, it’s an opportunity to get a ninth win, to get a ninth win against a good opponent and to keep that momentum going into next year is really important. We have built momentum, and we want to keep that momentum moving forward..” <-

-> “It means a lot,” said Mora, 62, who will obviously get a new contract sooner than later to keep this momentum going. “First and foremost, the commitment to the university to football, which has been demonstrated over and over again. These (players) here, a lot of them acted on blind faith and their commitment to achieving things that haven’t been achieved here in a while has been extra special, it’s extraordinary, it’s uncommon. <-

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

-> Nine wins, the most for UConn since 2009, and it ends with a win over the ACC opponent, the one step the Huskies did not take in three previous attempts against Duke, Wake Forest and Syracuse this season..

It ended with UConn on ESPN, putting its best foot forward, an appealing presentation. An independent program, the Huskies had their team basically intact while rosters elsewhere were disintegrating. They played with passion, with unity, played like a team that wanted to be in this bowl game, played like a program a player looking for a football home would want to join, like an organization that could add value to a conference. What more could’ve been accomplished?

“I’d say, ‘We’re just like everybody else,'” Jones said. “We might not be in a conference, but we got the fans. We play the same type of football, good, smash-mouth football. We’re just like everybody else.” <-

 

[UCan3]

Listening to Mora, who wouldn’t want to play for him… seriously… UNC players came out so flat - we came out with players that wanted to prove something to themselves and their coaching staff!